System and method for distributing video data over an electrical power line

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for performing a method of distributing video data over an electrical power line. The system includes but is not limited to a processor in data communication with a computer readable medium and a computer program comprising instructions embedded in the computer readable medium, the computer program further comprising instructions to detect first event data at a first controllable device in an internet protocol television system; instructions to send second event data over the electrical power line to a second controllable device in the internet protocol television system from the first controllable device in response to the detecting the first event data at the first controllable device; and instructions to receive video data concurrently at a first internet protocol television client device over the electrical power line from the first and second controllable devices in response to the detecting the first event data at the first controllable device.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Disclosure

The disclosure relates to the field of video data distribution systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many home automation systems use coaxial cabling, cat5 or other media todistribute and transport data. In many cases, the use of such cablingrequires extensive installation effort and expense. In some cases thecabling supplies data to a graphical user interface (GUI) displaydevice, processor, and a remote control to access the home automationsystem GUI. The GUI is stored locally on the processor to provide accessto home automation and security features via the cabling system. Currenthome automation systems may use elaborate cabling systems to communicatewith specialized controllers, expensive liquid crystal display (LCD)panels, and media centers. Many existing home automation systems andcontrollers use extensive, complex programming only available throughon-site or remote service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For detailed understanding of the illustrative embodiment, referencesshould be made to the following detailed description of an illustrativeembodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like elements have been given like numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting of an illustrative embodimentshowing an Internet protocol television (IPTV) network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting an illustrative embodimentshowing a network of controllable devices connected to an IPTV networkusing an electrical power line for data transfer;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting an illustrative embodimentshowing a network of controllable devices connected to an IPTV networkusing an electrical power line for data transfer;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram depicting a particular illustrativeembodiment showing a Set-top Box (STB) with integrated home and mediacontroller in data communication with controllable devices in a home;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a data structure for storing a device statein an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an iconic representation of a device statefor describing a context in terms of an event, an activity and aparticipant in a particular illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a database for containing context data inan illustrative embodiment;

FIGS. 8-10 are flow charts illustrating methods performed in anillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a UI screen presenting UI data and anelectronic program guide for selecting client-generated IPTV channel andclient generated video data in an illustrative embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theillustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

This present disclosure describes a system and method that utilizes thepower line system in the premises to distribute and transport data. Thesystem and method substantially reduce the need to use coax, cat5 orother media to distribute and transport the data. In an illustrativeembodiment, cameras require are plugged into a power outlet. Using “HomePlug” or other power line protocols with sufficient bandwidth totransport video is an efficient method to delivery video over anexisting power line in the premises. The video can be extracted at agateway device or internet protocol television (IPTV) client device suchas a set top box (STB) for distribution to other IPTV client devices. Anillustrative embodiment provides a relatively easy installation methodand utilizes existing electrical power wiring in the premises. Thecamera is plugged into an electrical power line to operate and usingthat electrical power line data transmission, including but not limitedto video data transmission, substantially eliminates a need for coax,phone line, cat5 and other physical medium that would requireinstallation and additional cost over and above the existing electricalpower wiring. Also, an illustrative system and method reduce the need toprovide power over cat5 or other medium to power the camera that alsoreduces cost.

A particular illustrative embodiment allows plug in play installation ofcameras, requires no additional wiring or medium, reduces cost, is morereliable than wireless cameras, leverages existing hardware on thepremises, and substantially reduces the need to power cameras over coax,cat5 or another medium. An illustrative system and method effectivelyutilize the power line system and advanced home networking protocolsover an electrical power line for the distribution of data betweencontrollable devices, including but not limited to the video from thecamera. Another particular illustrative embodiment integrates with otherpower line networking protocols such as controllable device such as homeentertainment video/audio, STB, DVR, Personal media contact and more.Another particular illustrative embodiment essentially leveragesexisting power line protocols such as HOME PLUG™ and other power linetechnologies that incorporate high bandwidth solutions. A particularillustrative embodiment provides an existing gateway or STB to extractand access data originating from the controllable devices, including thevideo data.

In another particular embodiment, a computer readable medium isdisclosed containing instructions embedded in the computer readablemedium that when executed by a processor are useful in performing amethod for distributing video data over an electrical power line, themethod including but not limited to detecting first event data at afirst controllable device in an internet protocol television system;sending second event data over the electrical power line to a secondcontrollable device in the internet protocol television system from thefirst controllable device in response to the detecting the first eventdata at the first controllable device; and receiving video dataconcurrently at a first internet protocol television client device overthe electrical power line from the first and second controllable devicesin response to the detecting the first event data at the firstcontrollable device.

In another embodiment of the medium, the method further includes but isnot limited to displaying concurrently the video data from the first andsecond controllable devices on a display at the first internet protocolclient device. In another embodiment of the medium, the firstcontrollable device and the second controllable device send video datato the first internet protocol client device in response to thedetecting the first event data. In another embodiment of the medium, thefirst and second controllable devices are video cameras, the methodfurther includes but is not limited to inserting at the first internetprotocol client device, the video data received from the first andsecond controllable devices into a client-generated internet protocoltelevision channel; and inserting client-generated listing data for thevideo data from the first and second controllable devices intoclient-generated internet protocol television electronic program guidedata.

In another embodiment of the medium, the method further includes but isnot limited to sending the client-generated electronic program guidedata to a second internet protocol television system client device fromthe first internet protocol television system client device; receivingchannel selection data from the second internet protocol televisionsystem client device at the first internet protocol television systemclient device, wherein the channel selection data indicates theclient-generated internet protocol television channel data; and sendingthe video data from the first and second controllable devices in theinternet protocol television channel to the second internet protocoltelevision system client device. In another embodiment of the medium,the client-generated listing data further comprises context statementdata describing the event detected. In another embodiment of the medium,the context statement data further comprises event activity dataindicating an event activity and event location data indicating an eventlocation.

In another embodiment of the medium, the context statement data furthercomprises data indicating event participant data indicating an eventparticipant for the event activity and event location. In anotherembodiment of the medium, the method further includes but is not limitedto inserting the client-generated electronic program data into internetprotocol television system-generated electronic program guide data,wherein the internet protocol television system-generated electronicprogram guide data is distributed to a plurality of client devices inthe internet protocol television system and the internet protocoltelevision system-generated electronic program guide data indicatesprograms provided by the internet protocol television system.

In another particular embodiment, a system is disclosed for distributingvideo data over an electrical power line, the system includes but is notlimited to a processor in data communication with a computer readablemedium; and a computer program comprising instructions embedded in thecomputer readable medium, the computer program further comprisinginstructions to detect first event data at a first controllable devicein an internet protocol television system; instructions to send secondevent data over the electrical power line to a second controllabledevice in the internet protocol television system from the firstcontrollable device in response to the detecting the first event data atthe first controllable device; and instructions to receive video dataconcurrently at a first internet protocol television client device overthe electrical power line from the first and second controllable devicesin response to the detecting the first event data at the firstcontrollable device.

In another embodiment of the system, the computer program furtherincludes but is not limited to instructions to display concurrently thevideo data from the first and second controllable devices on a displayat the first internet protocol client device. In another embodiment ofthe system, the first controllable device and the second controllabledevice send video data to the first internet protocol client device inresponse to the detecting the first event data. In another embodiment ofthe system, the first and second controllable devices are video cameras,the computer program further comprising instructions to insert at thefirst internet protocol client device, the video data received from thefirst and second controllable devices into a client-generated internetprotocol television channel; and instructions to insert client-generatedlisting data for the video data from the first and second controllabledevices into client-generated internet protocol television electronicprogram guide data.

In another embodiment of the system, the computer program furtherincludes but is not limited to instructions to send the client-generatedelectronic program guide data to a second internet protocol televisionsystem client device from the first internet protocol television systemclient device; instructions to receive channel selection data from thesecond internet protocol television system client device at the firstinternet protocol television system client device, wherein the channelselection data indicates the client-generated internet protocoltelevision channel data; and instructions to send the video data fromthe first and second controllable devices in the internet protocoltelevision channel to the second internet protocol television systemclient device. In another embodiment of the system, the client-generatedlisting data further comprises context statement data describing theevent detected. In another embodiment of the system, the contextstatement data further comprises event activity data indicating an eventactivity and event location data indicating an event location. Inanother embodiment of the system, the context statement data furthercomprises data indicating event participant data indicating an eventparticipant for the event activity and event location. In anotherembodiment of the system, the computer program further includes but isnot limited to instructions to insert the client-generated electronicprogram data into internet protocol television system-generatedelectronic program guide data, wherein the internet protocol televisionsystem-generated electronic program guide data is distributed to aplurality of client devices in the internet protocol television systemand indicates programs provided by the internet protocol televisionsystem.

In another particular illustrative embodiment, a video camera isactivated and distributes video data without installing additionalcabling. Many video cameras require additional wiring for installation.Wireless video cameras are often not reliable based on their usage ofunlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency. In an illustrative embodiment, video datais extracted at a gateway or STB device for distribution and accessingthe video. In view of the above, an illustrative embodiment is presentedthrough one or more of its various aspects to provide one or moreadvantages, such as those noted below. In one embodiment a method ispresented for configuring device state data for a home automationcontrollable device including accessing user interface (UI) data from adatabase at a server, sending the UI data from the server to a clientdevice, receiving data representing a user input to the UI from theclient device at the server, configuring the device state data in thedatabase in accordance with the user input, and sending the configureddevice state data to the client device. The client device may beintegrated into an IPTV client device, such as a set top box (STB) asshown in FIGS. 1-4 herein. While embodiments dealing with homes aredisclosed herein, it should be understood that the techniques areapplicable in other environments including but not limited tobusinesses, schools and other environments wherein consumer electronicdevices can be controlled as controllable devices. The STB is an exampleof an illustrative IPTV client device integrated with a integratedclient agent (ICA A described below) that functions as a devicecontroller. Some if not all of the controllable devices are alsointegrated with a controllable device agent (CDA), including anintegrated processor in data communication with an integrated computerreadable medium for containing data for processing by the integratedprocessor and computer program instructions data executed by theprocessor. The CDAs detect events and reporting detected events via datamessages sent to other controllable devices and to an ICA in an IPTVclient device. In an illustrative embodiment, video cameras includeintegrated motion detectors.

In a particular embodiment, a system and method for interacting with acontrollable device agent in an IPTV system is disclosed. Eachcontrollable device incorporates a controllable device agent implementedin firmware. The controllable device agent is in data communication withother controllable device agents on the premises and IPTV client devicesin the IPTV system, such as an on-premises STB.

In another aspect of a particular embodiment a controllable devicehaving controllable device agent can include but is not limited to atelephone, media server, security system, lighting, ventilation, airconditioning thermostat, video systems, audio systems, window coverings,attic vent fans, automated doors, gates, locks, energy managementsystem, automated fountain, water heaters, sprinklers, pools, spas,video cameras, automated appliances, water leakage detectors, vehicledetection systems, hurricane shutters, security shutters, weatherstation, utility monitoring devices, automated fireplaces and automatedceiling fans. In another aspect of a particular embodiment anillustrative system and method further include sending video data to anIPTV server and sending the video data from the IPTV server to amonitoring service such as fire, police or a private monitoring service.

In a particular illustrative embodiment a system and method are providedto configure controllable devices in a home and distribute data betweencontrollable devices in a home and an IPTV client device in the home andbetween an IPTV client device inside of the home and an IPTV clientdevice outside of the home. A particular illustrative embodimentincludes but is not limited to a client device such as a set-top box(STB) with an integrated client (IC) for monitoring and controlling adevice state for a group of controllable devices for performing homeautomation and distributing data between the controllable devices. Theterms STB and ICA are used interchangeably herein to mean an STB with anIC. The ICA can communicate through any suitable gateway, such as anintegrated residential gateway (RG) to access a server hosting aninternet protocol television (IPTV) server. The term IPTV is used hereinto describe a digitized television signal set over a digital networksuch as the Internet television over internet protocol (TVoIP). As anexample of TVoIP, the IPTV example of the illustrative embodiment isused as a non limiting example of an illustrative embodiment system forproviding TVoIP or IPTV. IPTV is not intended to limit the disclosure toany specific implementation of a system for providing digital televisionand video delivered over the internet or TVoIP. The terms IPTV and TVoIPare used herein interchangeably. The present description or disclosureis not limited to any particular vendor's implementation of IPTV orTVoIP, including but not limited to a Microsoft Corporationimplementation of digital television delivered over the internet.

A residential gateway (RG) is shown in an illustrative embodiment,however, any data device such as a gateway that provides datacommunication between the IPTV client device with an ICA and the servers106, 138, 114 and 133, is suitable, including but not limited tocommercial, industrial, multiple dwelling unit and office gateways. IPTVuser interface (UI) data is provided for formatting the UI at a clientand presentation of electronic program guide, client-generated EPGlistings, client-generated video data, context descriptions, devicestate data and home automation data at the client is stored at adatabase accessible to an IPTV server 106. Home automation controllabledevices 123 (herein after “controllable devices”) operational states arerepresented in a device state data structure stored in a database at acontrol server 138. The ICA monitors and receives the device state datafrom the control server for all controllable devices in a home. The ICAcontrols the controllable devices via the controllable device clients,setting them to the device settings in the device state data.

The ICA communicates with the IPTV server and control server through anintegrated interface or through an interface such as RG 122. The RG 122can be integrated into ICA STB 124. The device state for thecontrollable devices can be configured and controlled by a subscriberthrough the UI. The UI may be displayed on a television set or acomputer through the RG or STB or at remote devices away from the home,such as all phone, PDA and laptop. Multiple UI formats and device statedata sets for a number of client devices are stored in the data base.Thus the UI can be sent to multiple IPTV client devices and the devicestate data presented on multiple clients. The UI format for a cell phonecould be different the format for a television or PC. The device statedata presented in the UI format may change between client devices. TheUI enables a subscriber to monitor and control the operational state ofexisting home automation controllers, devices, and security systems froma client device such as the ICA or a remote cell phone. The IPTV clientdevices also receive IPTV video data, client-generated video data,device monitoring data and video streams.

In an illustrative embodiment the ICA communicates with the existingcontrollable devices in the home through existing home wiring, orpower-line technology, such as HOME PLUG™ and UPB™, other communicationnetworks and protocols can be used including X10, Zigbee, ultra wideband (UWB) and Insteon. The ICA controls the states of the controllabledevices according to the device state data by sending control commandsto the controllable devices to turn on lights or stream video data froma front porch video camera when the door bell rings.

A system according to the illustrative embodiment can be inexpensivelyinstalled and thus is affordable to the average homeowner. The system ofthe illustrative embodiment can save consumers thousands of dollars ininstallation costs compared to installation of elaborate home automationsystems. The illustrative embodiment is network based and thus enablestransparent software upgrades and remote service transparent to asubscriber enabling service without disrupting a subscriber's householdfor maintenance and upgrades. The illustrative embodiment provides aneasy, convenient method for home automation, content selection andsecurity. Home automation programming is provided through simplified UIcontrol at the server with built-in computer program applications. Theillustrative embodiment provides server based computer programs that canprovide reporting, analysis, performance, environmental control andevaluation of usage of controllable devices.

The illustrative embodiment provides an IPTV and control server basedhome automation system. UI data is provided that resides on a databaseaccessible to the control server 138 and the IPTV server 106. An ICA anduser remote control (RC) are provided to enable the user to use the RCto provide input to and communicate with the UI through the ICA to alterUI data and the device state data via the CDA. The UI data is displayedon an IPTV UI format display such as on a television or on a mobiledisplay device such as a cell phone. A subscriber can convenientlyaccess the UI data through the formatted UI presentation of the UI dataon a display screen to control home automation and content from thecomfort of their home sofa or from a remote location via a laptopcomputer, cell phone or PDA. The UI can be accessed from the ICA via anintegrated RG through any STB or television RC location in the home. TheUI can also be accessed remotely through the control server by remotedevices through Wi-Fi, local or remote wireless networks. The UI datacan be accessed by numerous other client devices in and away from thehome including but not limited to personal media players (PMP), advancedremote controls, LCD's, lap-top computers, personal computers, andverbal input through a voice recognition system.

The control server 138 processes remote device user input data from a UIpresented at the remote device and communicates the data to the IPTVserver, control and ICA per the input data. UI input from a remotedevice are reflected in the UI and the device state data. For example, auser at a cell phone can request turning on the heat at a cell phone UI.The control server accepts the UI input from and changes the devicestate in the data base to turn on the heat. The control server sends thenew device state data to the ICA and formats the UI to reflect thechange in the device state. The control server sends a message to theIPTV server to send the reformatted UI data for the new device state anddevice state data to the ICA for display as a UI screen at the clientdevice. Remote devices communicate with the control server, IPTV serverand data base via messages with the control server 138 and send data toand from with control server 138. The ICA sends device states read fromthe controllable devices directly to the control server and the controlserver sends device states for controlling the controllable devicesdirectly to the ICA. Programming the home automation system issimplified as it is initially pre-configured with serviceable defaultcomputer programs.

Data representing a device state of the home automation controllabledevices (hereinafter “device state”) is stored in a database at oraccessible to the control server. The device state represents anoperational state for each controllable device in the home. The devicestate data can be configured to set controllable devices in variousoperational states including but not limited to, on, off, variable poweror dimmer setting, volume settings, flicker, video streaming data, etc.The device state data and associated device state for controllabledevices in the home can be configured using a UI iconic representationof the home controllable devices appearing in a house floor plan. In anillustrative embodiment, device states can be learned in “context”.Learning a device state in context is performed by instructing the ICAto learn, that is, capture and store a particular device state data andcontext data representing a set of current controllable device settings(device state) for current or future context data. For example, asubscriber may configure controllable devices manually or via the UI, toturn down the lights, turn the television volume up and mute thetelephones in his home as he (subscriber “dad”) is watching Monday NightFootball. Dad may use the UI to instruct the ICA in an illustrativeembodiment to learn the device state and context for a subscriber dadwatching Monday Night Football. The ICA monitors and sends the devicestate data to the control server for storage in the database at thecontrol server for application of business rules to the device state andcontext data. The IPTV server or control can associate this device statedata in the data base with a context to generate a business applicationof a business rule. Thus, next time dad is watching Monday nightfootball the business rule will see that dad is watching Monday nightfootball and send the learned device state data to the ICA to set thedevice state in the controllable devices.

In an illustrative embodiment, a server database is provided for storingthe device states data. The device states data can be manipulated byaccessing the UI. The UI resides off-site in the IPTV network serverdatabase for on-going software updates and programming. Dedicated STBremote buttons are provided for macros, such as all home lights mode onor panic mode, such as all lights flashing during an intrusion or breachof security. In this case an intrusion alert from the ICA can be sent toneighbor homes over the IPTV network and to a security monitoring agencysuch as police, fire and emergency medical. An advanced ICA remotecontrol (RC) is provided for user input to the UI to access and interactwith additional features and controls including but not limited tointelligent monitoring and management for energy savings, home theatrecontrol, security control and more. A client device at the home nextdoor can receive the client-generated EPG data from home and selectclient-generated video data generated by the home to view video datafrom the household intrusion. A remote mobile client device can receivethe client-generated EPG from home and select client-generated videodata generated by the home to view video data from the intrusionhousehold.

In one particular embodiment, CDA communication interfaces are providedto existing controllable devices, home automation systems and securitysystems. In an illustrative embodiment the ICA can communicate with CDASover existing home wiring using power-line or wireless technologies forchanging the state of controllable devices by controlling the devicesaccording to the device state. Controllable devices can be monitored andtheir device state controlled, that is, the devices can be turned on andoff, variably controlled as to direction, speed and power. Theillustrative embodiment provides a database for storing business rulesdata, content data, context data and device states data. The businessrules are applied to the content, device state data and context data toreconfigure the device states in the database which are sent to the ICAfor setting a device state in the controllable devices, for example, ina home or business.

In a particular embodiment a user can access the UI data to communicatewith an STB with ICA having a digital video recorder (DVR) and a mediaserver containing video, music, photos, etc. Home automation systemreporting and context description and analysis are provided at thecontrol server or the client device.

Reporting includes reporting data to the control server through the ICAon device performance, environmental factors and device usage. Usagereporting can be conducted on or by individual devices or appliances inthe home including but not limited to devices such as, refrigerators,air conditioners, swimming pools and lights. Reporting can be tied tocontent data or context data. For example, refrigerator contents datacan be inventoried by subscriber interaction at a mobile client deviceIAC or CDA when the mobile client device is acting as a controllabledevice to another IAC with the UI, such as verbal announcement to thevoice recognition system or by scanning in by bar code identifyingproducts like in a supermarket checkout line and reported to asubscriber on demand. A business rule may be configured to monitor IPTVcontent data and display refrigerator contents data when a commercialbreak is encountered during a football game.

In another particular embodiment, an end user at a mobile IPTV clientdevice can query an IPTV electronic program guide to see what programsare scheduled as upcoming on television and concurrently queryrefrigerator contents to determine what additional food items an enduser may want to purchase to go along with the upcoming or scheduledtelevision event.

Washers, dryers, microwaves, heating/cooling, and pool/hot-tub usage,can be monitored, reported and controlled. A particular embodiment canprovide business rules to use weather stations reports to the controlserver to provide weather related home automation features to change thedevice state to control shutters during high winds, blinds synchronizedwith the sun, sprinklers run according to recent cumulative rainfall,windows/ventilation systems, and temperature and humidity control tooptimize energy efficiencies.

In another particular embodiment an STB with integrated client agent(hereafter referred to as “ICA” and used interchangeably with STB tomean an STB with integrated client) is provided. The ICA provides an IPbased home automation solution that integrates content (entertainmentvideo and RDP applications) with advanced home monitoring and automationcontrol features. ICA automation features include but are not limited tocontrolling lighting, security, surveillance, temperature, energymanagement. Video content related controls include but are not limitedto home theater control, diagnostics, context description and reportingcapabilities. The ICA control seamlessly integrates advanced hometheater control and home automation control using standard IR, IP, RF,wireless and power line communication protocols. The ICA can beintegrated into an STB which can include but is not limited to an STBused for decoding CATV, IPTV, and/or Satellite video applications. TheICA leverages existing STB functionality and connectivity to consumerA/V electronics and controllable devices including access toclient-generated video data, personal media content such asinternal/external digital video recorder (DVR), personal video recorder(PVR), PMP or storage devices and personal computers.

An ICA is described in the illustrative embodiment which is capable ofproviding home automation monitoring and control, and audio/visual (A/V)control and content control to any room in the home through the ICA anda home communication network. In an illustrative embodiment, the ICAintegrates infrared (IR), IEEE 1394, RS-232, radio frequency (RF),component video, composite video, S-video, DVI, HDMI, optical, Ethernet,RJ-11, audio in/out, video in/out, and speaker out connectivity to thehome theater consumer electronics equipment.

In an illustrative embodiment, the ICA communicates to other STB's andhome automation device CDAS throughout the home using communicationnetworks including but not limited to a wireless mess network, Ethernet,Wi-Fi, Zigbee or power line distribution systems methods including butnot limited to Zwave, universal power bus (UPB), and Insteon protocol.The ICA also communicates with and controls controllable devices,including but not limited to sensors, detectors, thermostats, outletdimmers, outlet switches, smoke detectors, fire detection systems, videocameras, carbon monoxide detectors, contacts, proximity sensors, videocameras, security systems, gas detection devices, irrigation equipment,energy measurement, load control, air conditioning, humidity control,heating equipment, dimmer switches, switches, smart appliances,pool/spa, home theater, shades, blinds, drapes, projection screens,mounts, lifts, fan speed, remote dimmers, etc. The ICA can be accessedand controlled by remote controls, remote wireless devices, touch pads,key pads, LCD's, key fobs, PDA's, PMP's, Cell Phones, computers, etc.The ICA may access an IPTV GUI and to request to receive a device statefrom the control server to configure controlled devices in the homeaccording to the device state.

Turning now to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting an IPTVnetwork 100 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1, the IPTV network 100 includes but is not limited to a super huboffice (SHO) 102 for acquisition and encoding of information and datasuch as video content; a video hub office (VHO) 104 in each demographicmarket area (DMA) for delivery of the content; intermediate offices (IO)116 and central offices (CO) 118 locations in each metropolitan area fordistribution of the content; a service area interface (SAI) accessnetwork between the COs and multiple or single dwelling units; and thein-home network with residential gateway (RG) 122. The SHO, VHO, IO andCO may be located in separate geographic regions (nation, region, state,metropolitan, and city) to communicate to subscribers over high-speeddigital communication lines 108.

A server 114 can be placed at the SHO 102 to acquire and redistributecontent to the VHOs 104 which may be spread across a large geographicregion such as a country, such as the United States, England or France.The SHO may be provided in a geographically central location foracquisition of national-level broadcast TV programming. IPTV system EPGdata is also distributed from the SHO or another server in the IPTVsystem. The SHO can be the central point of on-demand video contentacquisition and insertion of content into the IPTV network. Videocontent may include but is not limited to all displayable visual andaudio content data including but not limited to client-generated videodata, movies, games and television programs. Video content can bereceived at the SHO 102 via satellite and processed for delivery to theVHOs 104. On demand video content can be received from various sourcesand processed for code/decode and bit-rate requirements for the IPTVnetwork for transmission to the VHOs over high-speed communication links108. Video content from a SHO server 114 can be redistributed to theVHOs 104 toward the subscriber via the intermediate offices (IOs) 116and the central offices (COs) 118. The COs are connected to the IOs tofurther distribute video content data and EPG data toward thesubscribers. A subscriber at a client device such as a cell phone or STBcommunicates with the IPTV server 106 and the ICA 124 communicates withthe control server 138 over an internet protocol (IP) link 121 betweenICA 124 and servers 183, IPTV server 106 and control server 138.

The VHOs 104 can receive national content from the SHO 102 video server114. The VHOs are the video redistribution points within each designatedmarket area (DMA) or geographic region. Application systems, regionalsubscriber database systems, VOD servers, and fast channel-changeservers can be located in the VHO. In a particular illustrativeembodiment at least one IPTV server 106 and control server 138 areplaced at each VHO server. Each of the servers 114, 106, 138, 183includes a processor 130, memory 132 coupled to the processor 130,database 134, and GUI 133. The memory 132 can include a computer programthat is embedded in the memory 132 that can include logic instructionsto perform one or more of the method steps described herein.Additionally the database 134 containing the device control state 117 iscoupled to the processor 130.

IPTV subscriber activity data can be collected at the IPTV server 106from all subscribers associated with a particular server at a VHO andstored in the database 134 for global analysis between multiple IPTVsubscribers. Global context and alert messages can be created sent toIPTV subscribers based on a survey of subscriber activity data stored inthe database from multiple RGs or IPTV subscribers.

IPTV network content data, video data and messages data, UI data and thedevice state data is communicated to the ICA through a gateway, such asa subscriber ICA with integrated RG 122 and can be sent at leastpartially via either fiber to the node (FTTN) or fiber to the premises(FTTP) optical communication links. In another embodiment, othercommunication links between the ICA and the servers are provided whichare suitable including wireless or any other communication mode that maybe suitable for transmission of video and data over a communicationnetwork including but not limited to an IP network. FTTN equipment,located at communication interface such as a serving area interface(SAI), can be connected to the CO. FTTN equipment may also be located inthe CO. Toward the subscriber household, a network interface device(NID) and integrated RG 122 with a built-in very high data rate digitalsubscriber line (VDSL) modem or optical network termination (ONT) can beinstalled as the customer premise equipment (CPE).

In one particular embodiment the integrated RG can be connected to theadditional STBs 125 in the home via an internal network such as anEthernet. Each STB has an associated RC 126 which provides userselections and data entry to the UI presented on an STB display 179 tocontrol the IPTV selections and UI from the IPTV platform. Interactionwith the control server and UI is also provided at the remove devices.UI interaction and associated home automation device state andinformation (such as video from a surveillance camera in the home) anddata can also be sent to and from remote devices such as but not limitedto a PMP 127, PDA 128, cell phone 129 and voice recognition 207 system,through the control server 138. Remote devices can send various types ofdata to the IC. Video from a mobile cell phone video camera or mobilevideo camera can be streamed through the control server to the IPTVserver and sent to the ICA for display in a pop up window display areain the GUI display.

Subscriber activity data from a subscriber, including but not limited toIPTV UI inputs data, device states data, subscriber identification data,alerts data, IPTV channel selection data, IPTV control inputs data andIPTV data entry, is collected from each STB in a household. Thesubscriber activity data may be collected and transmitted from the RG toan IPTV server 106. Subscriber activity data may also include input tothe UI at the IPTV server from a wireless device located outside of thehome. In the illustrative embodiment an IPTV server 106 exists in eachVHO. The subscriber activity data can be collected periodically at eachIPTV server 106 or in real-time from each RG or other suitablecommunication gateway and stored in the database 134.

In the illustrative embodiment, each IPTV server 106 transmits thesubscriber activity data to a single database 134 for global analysisand trending. Global alert messages can be sent, as business rulesdictate, for global events such as severe weather, fire, terroristthreats, Amber alerts, and other global or regional events can be sentto IPTV subscribers based on analysis of subscriber activity datacollected at the database 134. Thus a fire alert reported in one IPTVsubscriber household can be reported to the fire department andneighboring households, including IPTV subscriber households. Thedatabase 134 may be a commercial database such as provided by Oraclerunning on a Sun Microsystems processor. Other processors and databasesystems are suitable for use with the illustrative embodiment as well.

The IPTV server periodically collects the subscriber activity data fromeach VHO and stores it in the database. The IPTV server may also operatein real time to collect the data from the VHOs. The subscriber activitydata from each VHO is pulled by the IPTV server periodically or can becollected in real time and relayed to the IPTV server. Real time datacollection by the control server 138 enables real time data analysis foriterative configuration of the device state, global alert messages anddynamic management of content and home automation from the controlserver 138. A bank of servers 183 is provided at the VHO, including anIPTV server 106 and a control server 138.

Each of the servers in the bank of servers 183 includes a processor 130,a memory 132 coupled to the processor 130, a database 134, and access toUI 133. In a particular embodiment the memory 132 can include a computerprogram that is embedded in the memory 132 that can include logicinstructions to perform one or more of the method steps describedherein. Additionally the database 134 is coupled to the processor 130containing the device control state 117.

The ICA 124, and STBs 125 may forward the subscriber activity data tothe RG which in turn sends the subscriber activity data to IPTV server106 via a communication path 121 between the VHO and an associated RG.Substantially all subscriber activity data including but not limited tocontent selection, device states, business rules and remote controlactivity is recorded as subscriber activity data at the IPTV server 106database. The processor 130 may be implemented as a Sun Microsystemsprocessor. The STB can contain a single microprocessor and memory, ormay be implemented as multiple microprocessors and memories located at asingle location or at several locations.

A downstream signal from the IPTV server 106 or control server 138 to aRG, display device or ICA includes but is not limited to UI data, devicestates data, and content data for display on the display deviceassociated with the recipient client, such display 170 associated withICA 124. An upstream signal through the RG from the home display device,RG or STB to the IPTV or control server includes but is not limited toevents, device state and subscriber activity data including but notlimited to channel selections, UI input and any other input from the RC,STB or other remote wireless device with access to the server. Thedevice states data can be communicated directly to the control server138 for conversion into an IPTV format UI and sent from the IPTV serverto the client device as an IPTV UI. The UI shows device states as icons,pictures, graphics text, and can also display video from a remote deviceor a home controllable device in pop up windows 170 on the UI.

Turning now to FIG. 2 in an illustrative embodiment IPTV UI 133 data isprovided from the IPTV server 106 to configure the device state 117 dataand business rules data in the database 134. The device state data issubsequently sent from the control server to the ICA through the RG forcontrolling controllable devices on a wireless mesh network 202, a powerline network 203, existing home security system 208, existing controlsystem 204 or a home computer 206. The subscriber uses the IPTV UI datato interact with the IPTV server 106 and control server 138, which canbe installed at the bank of servers 183 in the VHO 104. A subscriberuses a remote control 126 or remote wireless devices mobile email 202,PDA 204, cell phone 206, computer 208, or personal media player 210 toprovide input to the UI data at the IPTV server 106 on the servers 183.

The cell phone 206 interfaces or communicates through a wireless networkor wired network 232 to the control server 138. The remote wirelessdevices interface to the control server through wireless link 212. TheIPTV server 106 interfaces with the RG 122 over a network link 214. TheRG communicates with an ICA 124 over communication link 218. The RC 126communicates with the ICA 124 over communication link 216. The RGcommunicates with the wireless mesh network and the power line network202 over communication link 220. The RG communicates with existing homesecurity over communication link 222. The RG communicates with the homecomputer system 206 over communication link 224. The RG communicateswith the existing control system over communication link 226.

Turning now to FIG. 3, in an illustrative embodiment the IPTV UI 133 isaccessible for viewing and input from all premise home control devicesincluding but not limited to, wireless personal media player WIFI device210, wireless PDA WIFI device 204, remote computer internet wirelessWIFI device 205, and remote phone or cell phone 206. The UI is presentedin a display 179. Pop up windows 170 can be created in the UI dataand/or device state data to stream IPTV system and client generatedelectronic program guide data and client-generated video data or the UIdata to a pop up window 170 section in the UI 133. A voice recognitionsystem 207 in conjunction with a cell phone, or wireless telephone mayalso access a verbally announced version of the UI 133 to selectappropriate control states and configure business rules to be applied toa device state and context. Controllable devices and remote control homedevices proximate to the ICA may communicate with each other tocommunicate with the IC. Remote devices not in direct communication withthe ICA communicate with the ICA through the control server and the IPTVserver. The GUI can be verbally announced over a telephone and requestedinput received over the telephone through the voice recognition system.Remote home control devices also access a STB decoder or cable card 124to access the RG and IPTV UI to select content or configure the devicestate 117 and business rules.

Remote control home devices can include but are not limited to awireless personal media player (PMP) 211, STB remote control 213, and awireless LCD panel or advanced remote control 215. A voice recognitionsystem 217 is also provided to interface with the control server orcomputer 208 microphone or other audio input devices such as atelephone. The ICA 124 communicates with controllable devices 302 phone,set top box decoder cable card DVR 124, computer 208, security keypad209, and security or home automation control 204. The ICA 124 alsocommunicates with a switch/router/bridge 306 and a power line orwireless solution interface 308. The power line or wireless solutioninterface 308 communicates with the power line cluster tree 202 and thewireless mesh network 203. The switch/router/bridge 306 providescommunications between the residential gateway and controllable devices.

The controllable devices 123 (home automation controllable devices) mayinclude, but are not limited to a media server 310, security system 312,lighting interior/exterior 314, heating, ventilation and heating,ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) thermostat 316, video/audiosystems 318, window coverings 320, attic vent fans 322, automateddoors/gates and locks 324, energy management system 326, automatedfountain 328, water heaters 330, sprinklers 332, pools/spas 334, videocameras 336, automated appliances 338, water leakage 340, vehicledetection systems 342, hurricane or security shutters 344, weatherstation 346, utility monitoring devices 348, automated fireplaces 350,and automated ceiling fans 352.

The controllable devices can be configured to implement particularthemes or aggregated device states according to a current context,current or scheduled content and the business rules stored in thedatabase. Themes or device states can be associated with particular usercontent, time of day, and context. Context may include but is notlimited to a combination of subscriber or event participantidentification, global alert context from the database, time, current orscheduled content and other associated events. Associated events includebut are not limited to arrival, departure, alarm state, calendar,weather, holiday, global events, etc. Themes consist of but are notlimited to economy mode 354, sunrise sunset mode 356, scene lightingmode 358, party mode 360, leaving/arriving home mode 362, goodmorning/evening mode 364, panic/deterrent mode 366, kids home mode 368,good night mode 370, entertainment mode 372, vacation mode 374, and hometheater mode 376. A global alarm state may override a theme to interrupta muted setting where phones and TVs are turned off to send a phone andTV alert to a subscriber.

Turning now to FIG. 4 in a particular illustrative embodiment arouter/switch device 402 communicates with the ICA 401 on an STB withintegrated home control. The ICA 401 receives a device state from theIPTV network server 114 and communicates the control state to devices inthe home on a wireless network, over power lines or an Ethernet network405. The device state includes but is not limited to home theatercontrol settings associated with home theater content.

Devices or utilities controlled by or communicated with by the STB orICA include but are not limited to other STBs or ICs 401, a power linecluster tree 202, a wireless mesh network 203, the existing securitysystem 208, home computer 206, and internet access to home systems 230including home computer 208, personal media player 210, cell phone 206,PDS personal data assistant 204, and mobile email device 202. Thewireless mesh network communicates to network STBs and controllabledevices 123 in the home. The controllable devices 123 include but arenot limited to appliances, air conditioning and window coverings 406,humidity control and heating equipment 408, light sensors, detectorswitches and dimmers 410, home theater systems 412, securitysurveillance, guest detection and lights/safety devices 414, pool andspa controls 416, irrigation equipment 418, and energy measurement andload control devices 420.

Turning now to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 illustrates a data structure 117 forrepresenting the configuration of a device state of the home automationcontrollable devices. A set of data structure fields is shown associatedwith the controlled devices represented in the device state. There canbe multiple instances of each controlled device associated with a uniqueidentifier in the data structure for uniquely representing multiplecontrolled devices in the device state.

Additional fields can be added to represent additional controlleddevices. The device state is defined by fields in the data structure.Each device in a home is defined by a group 502 of device statedefinition fields. Each group 502, 504, 506, 508 of device statedefinition fields includes but is not limited to a device identificationfield 501 for storing device identification data, a device settingsfield 503 for storing device settings data for the device identified anda device location field 505 for storing data representing the devicelocation. A device state is defined by a collection of the device statedata in the data structure for all devices in a home having an ICA. TheICA in a particular illustrative embodiment performs video datadistribution and context description. Device state data may includealert message data such as a global or security alert message stored inthe device setting field 503 to be announced over an audio device ordisplayed on a display device.

Turning now to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is an iconic representation of the homecontrol devices appearing in the UI. The icon representation is used todetermine, represent and describe context in terms of an event, activityand participant. Home automation controllable devices are represented byas device icons. User input data to the UI can be performed by a RC andmoving a cursor over the UI. The user input data is sent to the IPTVserver or control server by the IC. User input to the ICA UI isaccomplished placing a cursor on a device icon and right clicking, thedevice operational mode can be selected and stored in the device statedata structure device setting field 503. Kitchen 602 controllabledevices 604, 606, 608 represent but are not limited to devices such asmicrowave ovens, coffee pots, ovens, televisions, lights, phones, videocameras with built in motion detectors, etc. Dining room 610controllable devices 612, 614, 616 represent but are not limited todevices such as televisions, lights, radios, phones, video cameras withmotion detectors, etc. Living room 618 controllable devices 620, 622,624 represent but are not limited to devices such as televisions,lights, stereos, DVD players, game systems, phones, video cameras withmotion detectors, etc. Study 626 controllable devices 628, 630, 632represent but are not limited to devices such as personal computers,lights, fax machines, printers, phones, etc.

As stated earlier, each CDA runs on a processor in data communicationwith a computer readable medium, both of which are integrated into someor all of the CDAs. Bathroom 1 634 controllable devices 636, 638, 640represent but are not limited to devices such as radios, lights,televisions, phones, etc. Some or all of the controllable device includebut are not limited to processor 130, memory 132 and database 134. Videocamera controllable device further includes motion detector 135. Sportsroom 642 controllable devices 644, 646, 648 represent but are notlimited to devices such as lights, radios, televisions, satellitesystems, DVD players, phones, etc. Great room 650 controllable devices652, 654, 656 represent but are not limited to devices such as lights,televisions, stereos, DVD players, phones, etc. Bathroom 2 658controllable devices 660, 662, 664 represent but are not limited todevices such as lights, televisions, radios, phones, etc. Bedroom 2 666controllable devices 668, 670, 672 represent but are not limited todevices such as lights, televisions, stereos, DVD players, satellitesystems, phones, etc.

Game room 674 controllable devices 676, 678, 680 represent but are notlimited to devices such as lights, televisions, stereos, DVD players,satellite systems, phones, personal computers, etc. Bedroom 3 682controllable devices 684, 686, 688 represent but are not limited todevices such as lights, televisions, stereos, DVD players, satellitesystems, phones, etc. Master bedroom 690 controllable devices 692, 694,696 represent but are not limited to devices such as lights,televisions, stereos, DVD players, satellite systems, phones, etc.

Turning now to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a database inaccordance with a particular illustrative embodiment. An illustrativeembodiment database includes but is not limited to context data at 702,business rules 704 data, scheduled content data 706, and the devicestate data 117. The database contains the business rules data accessibleto a processor for configuration of the device state data 117. Thedevice state data 117 may be associated with a particular theme. Thetheme may be associated with a particular context data 702. Thus, asubscriber may select a device state, configuring the lights and thecontrol device, etc. in this house for a particular context (i.e.subscriber is dad; time Monday 8 pm, October, content is Monday NightFootball). The context may also include parameters such as an event andevent participant such as children arriving home from school. When thechildren enter the home their unique alarm code to the home securitysystem identifies them as the kids arriving. If the time is between 3-5pm, the home automation system through the ICA can lock out access totelevision and computer games to enforce children doing their homework.A context description is represented by data stored in the contextdescription, event, activity and participant field 708 of the data base.

Turning now to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic flow chartrepresentation of a method performed by a computer system in accordancewith a particular illustrative embodiment. The process begins atterminal 802 and proceeds to block 804. At block 804 an illustrativeembodiment detects first event data at a first controllable device in aninternet protocol television system and sends second event data over theelectrical power line to a second controllable device in the internetprotocol television system from the first controllable device inresponse to the detecting the first event data at the first controllabledevice.

For example, a kitchen video camera with built in motion detectors,senses or detects an event, such as motion in the kitchen. A CDA in thekitchen video camera sends data reporting the event to an ICA in aresidential client device such as the STB and also send data reportingthe motion event to other CDAs in other video cameras through out thehouse. The kitchen video camera CDA commands the kitchen video camera togo active and begin sending video camera data to the STB ICA. Thekitchen video camera CDA further commands other video camera CDAs inrooms in the house adjacent to the kitchen go active and begin sendingvideo data to the STB. When motion is detected in a second video cameraCDA, the second CDA sends data reporting the motion event to the STB ICAand video cameras CDAs in rooms in the house adjacent to the secondvideo camera CDA. Thus, a person walking through house is tracked onvideo camera data sent to the STB as they walk through the house.

In a particular embodiment the STB receives video data concurrently fromthe active video cameras at a first internet protocol television clientdevice over the electrical power line from the first and secondcontrollable devices in response to the detecting the first motion eventdata at the first controllable device. At block 806, an illustrativeembodiment displays concurrently the video data from at least the firstand second controllable devices, such as the video cameras in thekitchen and adjacent rooms and displays the video data concurrently on adisplay at the first internet protocol client device. At block 808, in aparticular illustrative embodiment, the STB ICA inserts the video datafrom the first and second controllable devices into a client-generatedIPTV channel and inserts a listing for the video data from the first andsecond controllable devices into client-generated IPTV electronicprogram guide (EPG) data. The STB ICA sends the client-generated IPTVchannel data and IPTV EPG data to remote ICA in remote client devicesfor viewing, access and selection by remote client devices having ICAsand CDAs. A subscriber at a remote client device can request the datafrom the STB ICA and have the data sent to the remote client device overthe IPTV network and view the client-generated IPTV channel data andIPTV EPG data on the remote client device.

Listings data for the client-generated IPTV channels are displayed inthe EPG along with listings data for standard IPTV system generatedchannels (e.g., including but not limited to ESPN, ABC, CBS, CNN, etc.)At block 810, a particular illustrative embodiment sends the electronicprogram guide (EPG) data to a second internet protocol television systemclient device from the first internet protocol television system clientdevice and receives channel selection data from the second internetprotocol television system client device at the first internet protocoltelevision system client device. In another particular embodiment, thechannel selection data indicates the client-generated internet protocoltelevision channel. A particular illustrative embodiment further sendsthe video data from the first and second controllable devices in theinternet protocol television channel to the second internet protocoltelevision system client device. In a particular illustrativeembodiment, the process ends at terminal 811. In another illustrativeembodiment, a CDA in a kitchen senses the motion event, that motion issensed in the kitchen and sends report data to the STB ICA. A businessrule in memory at the STB examines the context, that is, the time ofday, that motion was detected in the kitchen and that the motion occursduring a security period such as when no one is supposed to be home orpast a set bed time, according to a business rule. The CDA in thekitchen video camera also sends data describing the context (event time,activity and location) to the STB and a CDA in the parent's televisionwhich places message data describing the context of the event on theparent's television indicating motion has been detected in the kitchen.Video data from the kitchen video camera and video data from videocameras in rooms adjacent the kitchen are placed in the client generatedIPTV channel and EPG at the STB and sent to the parents bedroom andremote client devices associated with subscribers in the residence.

In another illustrative embodiment, a CDA in a child's room senses anevent, that the child has turned on the television and sends report datato the STB ICA and a CDA in the television in the parent's bedroom. Abusiness rule in memory at the STB examines the context, that is, thetime of day, the participant is the child and activity is turning on thetelevision determines that the television is active past a set bed timefor the child, according to a business rule. The CDA also send datadescribing the context (event participant, event activity and eventlocation) to the CDA in the parent's television which places messagedata describing the context of the event on the parent's televisionindicating the child is watching television past the child's bed time.

Turning now to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of amethod performed by a computer system in accordance with a particularillustrative embodiment. The scenario starts at block 902, determinesevent type at block 904, determines event participant at block 906,determines present context at block 908, applies a business rule topresent context at block 910, describes the present context at block912, and sends the configured device state to STB at block 914 and thenreturns at block 916. At block 806 an illustrate embodiment inserts thevideo data from the first and second controllable devices into aclient-generated internet protocol television channel; and inserting alisting for the video data from the first and second controllabledevices into client-generated internet protocol television electronicprogram guide data.

Turning now to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic flow chartrepresentation of a method performed by a computer system in accordancewith a particular illustrative embodiment. The illustrative embodimentscenario starts at 1002, receives business rule input at block 1004,configures business rule based on business rule input at block 1006,stores business rule in database at block 1008, and then returns atblock 1010.

Turning now to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a UIscreen in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention. The GUI of FIG. 11 allows a subscriber to vie an electronicprogram guide at block 1102, review a listing of client-generated IPTVchannels 1104, view client-generated video data 1 1106, and viewclient-generated video data 2 in learn device state at block 1308. Thebusiness rules can be configured as entered via text input of spokenthrough the voice recognition system. An interpreter in the voicerecognition system translates the spoken commands into executablebusiness rules stored in the database. The device state can beconfigured using a GUI. The content can be selected using an IPTV GUIfor content selection. The learn device state icon 1208 enables asubscriber to store the current device state for the home along with thecontext. The context may include but is not limited to a particularsubscriber, content and time of day.

Turning now to FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of amachine in the form of a computer system 1600 within which a set ofinstructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one ormore of the methodologies discussed herein. In some embodiments, themachine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, themachine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In anetworked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client user machine in server-client user networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, aclient user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-topbox (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, amobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a personal digital assistant, a communications device, awireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, ascanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusteddevice, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the illustrative includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 1200 may include a processor 1202 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), amain memory 1204 and a static memory 1206, which communicate with eachother via a bus 1208. The computer system 1200 may further include avideo display unit 1210 (e.g., liquid crystals display (LCD), a flatpanel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computersystem 1200 may include an input device 1212 (e.g., a keyboard), acursor control device 1214 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1216, asignal generation device 1218 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and anetwork interface device 1220.

The disk drive unit 1216 may include a machine-readable medium 1222 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 1224)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated in herein above. Theinstructions 1224 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1204, the static memory 1206, and/or within theprocessor 1202 during execution thereof by the computer system 1200. Themain memory 1204 and the processor 1202 also may constitutemachine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including,but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits,programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications thatmay include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadlyinclude a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodimentsimplement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardwaremodules or devices with related control and data signals communicatedbetween and through the modules, or as portions of anapplication-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system isapplicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the illustrative embodiment,the methods described herein are intended for operation as softwareprograms running on a computer processor. Furthermore, softwareimplementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processingor component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, orvirtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement themethods described herein.

The illustrative embodiment contemplates a machine readable mediumcontaining instructions 1224, or that which receives and executesinstructions 1224 from a propagated signal so that a device connected toa network environment 1226 can send or receive voice, video or data, andto communicate over the network 1226 using the instructions 1224. Theinstructions 1224 may further be transmitted or received over a network1226 via the network interface device 1220.

While the machine-readable medium 1222 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the illustrative embodiment. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to:solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that housesone or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories,or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or opticalmedium such as a disk or tape; and/or a digital file attachment toe-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the illustrative embodiment is considered toinclude any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distributionmedium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents andsuccessor media, in which the software implementations herein arestored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the illustrative embodiment is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and otherpacket switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, andHTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are merely representational andmay not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “illustrativeembodiment” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarilylimit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventiveconcept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specificembodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should beappreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purposemay be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosureis intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of variousembodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and otherembodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to thoseof skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

Although the illustrative embodiment has been described with referenceto several illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the wordsthat have been used are words of description and illustration, ratherthan words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of theappended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the illustrative embodiment in its aspects.Although the illustrative embodiment has been described with referenceto particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is notintended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, theinvention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods,and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present illustrativeembodiment, the methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs running on a computer processor. Dedicated hardwareimplementations including, but not limited to, application specificintegrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardwaredevices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods describedherein. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, butnot limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributedprocessing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can alsobe constructed to implement the methods described herein.

1. A computer readable medium, containing instructions embedded in thecomputer readable medium that when executed by a processor are useful inperforming a method for distributing video data over an electrical powerline, the method comprising: Detecting first event data at a firstcontrollable device in an internet protocol television system; Sendingsecond event data over the electrical power line to a secondcontrollable device in the internet protocol television system from thefirst controllable device in response to the detecting the first eventdata at the first controllable device; and Receiving video dataconcurrently at a first internet protocol television client device overthe electrical power line from the first and second controllable devicesin response to the detecting the first event data at the firstcontrollable device.
 2. The medium of claim 1, the method furthercomprising: Displaying concurrently the video data from the first andsecond controllable devices on a display at the first internet protocolclient device.
 3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the first controllabledevice and the second controllable device send video data to the firstinternet protocol client device in response to the detecting the firstevent data.
 4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the first and secondcontrollable devices are video cameras, the method further comprising:Inserting at the first internet protocol client device, the video datareceived from the first and second controllable devices into aclient-generated internet protocol television channel; and Insertingclient-generated listing data for the video data from the first andsecond controllable devices into client-generated internet protocoltelevision electronic program guide data.
 5. The medium of claim 4, themethod further comprising: Sending the client-generated electronicprogram guide data to a second internet protocol television systemclient device from the first internet protocol television system clientdevice; Receiving channel selection data from the second internetprotocol television system client device at the first internet protocoltelevision system client device, wherein the channel selection dataindicates the client-generated internet protocol television channeldata; and Sending the video data from the first and second controllabledevices in the internet protocol television channel to the secondinternet protocol television system client device.
 6. The medium ofclaim 4, wherein the client-generated listing data further comprisescontext statement data describing the event detected.
 7. The medium ofclaim 6, wherein the context statement data further comprises eventactivity data indicating an event activity and event location dataindicating an event location.
 8. The medium of claim 7, wherein thecontext statement data further comprises data indicating eventparticipant data indicating an event participant for the event activityand event location.
 9. The medium of claim 4, the method furthercomprising: Inserting the client-generated electronic program data intointernet protocol television system-generated electronic program guidedata, wherein the internet protocol television system-generatedelectronic program guide data is distributed to a plurality of clientdevices in the internet protocol television system and the internetprotocol television system-generated electronic program guide dataindicates programs provided by the internet protocol television system.10. A system for distributing video data over an electrical power line,the system comprising: A processor in data communication with a computerreadable medium; and A computer program comprising instructions embeddedin the computer readable medium, the computer program further comprisinginstructions to detect first event data at a first controllable devicein an internet protocol television system; Instructions to send secondevent data over the electrical power line to a second controllabledevice in the internet protocol television system from the firstcontrollable device in response to the detecting the first event data atthe first controllable device; and instructions to receive video dataconcurrently at a first internet protocol television client device overthe electrical power line from the first and second controllable devicesin response to the detecting the first event data at the firstcontrollable device.
 11. The system of claim 10, the computer programfurther comprising: Instructions to display concurrently the video datafrom the first and second controllable devices on a display at the firstinternet protocol client device.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein thefirst controllable device and the second controllable device send videodata to the first internet protocol client device in response to thedetecting the first event data.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second controllable devices are video cameras, the computerprogram further comprising instructions to insert at the first internetprotocol client device, the video data received from the first andsecond controllable devices into a client-generated internet protocoltelevision channel; and instructions to insert client-generated listingdata for the video data from the first and second controllable devicesinto client-generated internet protocol television electronic programguide data.
 14. The system of claim 13, the computer program furthercomprising instructions to send the client-generated electronic programguide data to a second internet protocol television system client devicefrom the first internet protocol television system client device;instructions to receive channel selection data from the second internetprotocol television system client device at the first internet protocoltelevision system client device, wherein the channel selection dataindicates the client-generated internet protocol television channeldata; and instructions to send the video data from the first and secondcontrollable devices in the internet protocol television channel to thesecond internet protocol television system client device.
 15. The systemof claim 13, wherein the client-generated listing data further comprisescontext statement data describing the event detected.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the context statement data further comprises eventactivity data indicating an event activity and event location dataindicating an event location.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein thecontext statement data further comprises data indicating eventparticipant data indicating an event participant for the event activityand event location.
 18. The system of claim 13, the computer programfurther comprising instructions to insert the client-generatedelectronic program data into internet protocol televisionsystem-generated electronic program guide data, wherein the internetprotocol television system-generated electronic program guide data isdistributed to a plurality of client devices in the internet protocoltelevision system and indicates programs provided by the internetprotocol television system.